Puddling machine



Get l946- J. MILLER 2,409,221

PUDDLING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 8, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet l Mali V701? William J M716 1.

Oct.15, 1946.

W. J. MILLER PUDDLING MACHINE Original Filed Jan! 8,

mmm J 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Mllel? ()Ct. 15, 1946. w, MILLER 2,409,221

PUDDLING MACHINE v 4 Sheets- Sheet 3 Original Filed Jan 8, 1943 INVENTOR.

Oct. 15, 1946. w. J. MILLER PUDDLING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 8, 19434 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 15, 1946 PUDDLING MACHINE William J. Miller, Swissvale,Pa., assignor to Miller Pottery Engineering Company, Swissvale,Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original applicationJanuary 8, 1943, Serial No.

471,704. Divided and this application September 16, 1944, Serial No.554,509

1 22 Claims This application is a division of my co-pending applicationS. N. 471,704, filed January 8, 1943.

This invention relates to improvements in puddling machine. It has to doparticularly with the manufacture of ware such as jiggered dinnerware,for instance, plates, cups and saucers, bowls and the like.

The mass production of pottery ware by automatic machine and processeshas involved a certain amount of manual intervention, particularly inthe treatment and preparation of raw materials and in certain phases ofclay, ware and mold transportation, manipulation and processing.

One of the objects of this invention is to place the manufacture ofpottery Ware on as near a fully automatic basis as possible all the wayfrom the raw material stage to that of dried product ready for firstfiring. By substantially eliminating the human element in this respect,it is possible to remove handicaps which have heretofor-e interferedwith the continuity, quality and rate of production.

Another and perhaps more important object of this invention is toprovide for making simultaneously several difierent kinds of ware, thatis-to say, were having difierences in shape, size, decorative pattern ormaterial and even composition by means of a single, unitary mechanicalorganization. This invention comprehends machinery capable of performingman and different steps, and combinations of steps in the manufacture ofpottery ware some of which are conventional steps or operations andothers of which afiord new and improved ways and means of making potteryware of this class.

The machinery of the present invention is so constructed and arrangedthat diiferent sequences of operations may be performed at the same timeand variations in the sequences and procedural steps may be made at willand in some cases while the machinery is in operation. Thus, insofar asproduction diversification is concerned, it may be varied from one whichis highly diversified to one wherein substantially little or nodiversification occurs. Thus, I provide in a that these requirements mayvary widely, particularly if the pottery merchandises a large number ofshapes and designs.

Instead of the intermittent fabricating systemas illustrated in thepatent to Miller No.

continuous, somewhat as shown in the application to William J. Miller,Serial No. 413,734, filed October 6, 1941. That is to say, from thebeginning of fabricating operations to the point when the ware isremoved from the dryer and therebeyond, the materials will move incontinuous fashion whilst the various fabricating operations areperformed. This makes for increased pro.- duction speeds and raises thecapacity of the machinery. Furthermore, clay is supplied to thefabricating portion of the present mechanical organization by a systemand apparatus disclosed in application Serial No. 454,716, filed August13, 1942, to William J. Miller.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1, 2, and 3, taken together to match end to end in their orderlengthwise from left to right constitute a, diagrammatic view in plan ofthe entire ware production system of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a rotary puddling machine of thesystem.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section of one of the hollow ware puddlingheads seen in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section taken substantially on the sectionline 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a detail plan section of the puddling head of Fig. 5, as takenon the section line 7-1.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan of the fiat ware puddling head seen in Fig. 4.

As illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 1 to 3, the system includes anendless flexible mold conveyor 5! comprising a series of centrally openmold carriers or positioning rings 52 interconnected in equally spacedrelation by flexible links or cable sections 53. The conveyor ismaintained in a substantially horizontal plane while travellingcontinuously in a tortuous path about idler sprockets and rotarymachines of the system by having outboard supporting rollers 54 ridingon rails 55.

The molds'for forming four types of ware are carried in the rings 52 induplicate successive sets which, in the course of the conveyor, arebrought into 'co-operative relation with a series of rotar machines 69,6|, 62, 63 and 64 designed to respectively condition the molds, treatmolds for a certain method of ware decoration, treat molds for anothermethodof ware decoration, further condition the treated molds and treatmolds for engobing certain ware. These machines are selectively used.

The molds then continue to a series of rotary machines 65, 66 and 91designed to selectively feed clay charges of similar or of differentcom- 2,046,525, I propose to make the present system position orconditioned clay bodies to the molds tic and non-plastic materialsrequired and selectively feed same to the machine. 7

After receiving the charges, the molds con tinue to a series of rotarymachines 'II to 93, inclusive, designed to selectively perform variousforming, conditioning and decoration operations to produce the ware asmore fully hereinafter described.

The molds then pass through a drier 95 for an optimum period to dry toleather hardness certain ware to be appendaged, such as cups or thelike, which are then conveyed out of the drier at a take-off station Eto a rotary machine 95 which transfers same from an upright position inthe molds to an inverted position in co-operative relation with anappendaging machine 91, the transfer machine also being designed tofettle and smooth the ware prior to being transferred.

The molds are then returned into the drier and are conveyed pasttake-01f stations F and G located along the conveyor course and arebrought at predetermined points into cooperative relation, respectivelywith rotary machines 98 and 99 designed to transfer other types of ware,each requiring a different drying period, to suitable conveyingapparatus I and IOI arranged to convey the ware to suitable locationsfor further treatment. These machines are also designed to fettle,smooth and reverse or reposition the ware incident to transferringsame,if desired.

Upon leaving the drier, the molds are advanced to a rotary machine I02employed to lay to the molds or reform thereon partly dried ware thatmay have become slightly distorted during drying and being especially ofuse as located, in an ining-operation, saidmachine I02 or number of.

same may be disposed along the conveyor course adjacent one or each ofthe take-off or transfer stations E, G, and F.

From the reforming machine I02, the molds continue to another rotarytransfer machine I03 co-operating with a conveying system I03a totransfer the various types of ware that may remain on the conveyor toany one or a number of selected locations for further treatment, themachine being designed to fettle and smooth the ware and reverse theposition thereof if desired. Upon leaving the transfer machine I03, theempty molds are advanced to a rotary machine I04 co-operating with aconveying system I04a to'remove any one or all the molds of each set andtransfer same to a suitable location for storage when changing thesystem over to the production of a different type or types of ware, orwhendamaged or worn molds require replacement for repair.

The next machine I05 along the course of the conveyor is also of therotary type designed to co-operate with a conveying system I05a fortransferring molds for a certain type or. types of ware from one or morestorage locations and placing same in the emptied mold carriers in anydesired order;

The molds then continue to a rotary conditioning machine I06 designed toremove any foreign matter from the molds, and then continue to anotherconditioning machine I01 employed to apply to all the molds, or onlythose which have just been placed on the conveyor, a conditioningmedium, such as oil. The molds then pass through a conditioning zone I08comprising a tunnel within which the air is suitably heated or otherwiseconditioned to dry or otherwise put the molds in a proper condition asthey return to complete another cycle of operation.

Generally, the machines are of the rotary table type, about the tablesof which the conveyor meshes to remain in cooperative relation with eachmachine during a sufficient portion of its rotation to perform thevarious operations on the molds or ware.

As seen in Figs. 2 and 3, a power unit I09, such as a combination motorand adjustable speed reducer is employed to constantly drive themachines and mold conveyor in synchronism, through a power shaft I09aand suitable gearing I091) co-operating between same and the rotarymachines I3, 8| and 93 which thus serve as driving connections for theconveyor at spaced intervals therealong and whereby the conveyor in turnserves as a driven connection for the rotary machines with which itmeshes between said intervals. It is also contemplated that the conveyorand any number or all of the said rotary machines and idlers definingits course may be independently or collectively driven in timedrelation.

The molds are advanced on the conveyor to a rotary puddling machine I4designed to remove any strains, laps or other defects to a substantialdepth from the exposed surface of the preformed charges inherent in theclay or created incident to pressing, feeding, or otherwise.

The means of this machine for supporting the conveyorand operating themolds includes (see Figure 4) a base 440 supporting a stationary hollowcentral shaft 44I on which rotates a table 442 having four equallyspaced peripheral positioning pockets 443 and a peripheral groove 444 torespectively receive the mold carriers and cable sections of the moldconveyor.

As the mold conveyor travels about the table 442, each mold is elevatedby a mold chuck 445 to bring'the preformed charge therein into 00-operative relation with puddling head for a given period, and duringwhich time the mold and puddling head are rotated relatively to eifectthe puddling operation. For operating the chucks, each is mounted on thetop end of a vertical piston rod 441 of a cylinder and piston fluidmotor 448 secured to the bottom end of an electric motor 449 having ahollow shaft 450 within which the piston rod reciprocates in splinedconnection to be rotated thereby. When elevated, the chuck is vacuumizedto hold the mold fixed therein by being connected with a vacuum line450a through a, distributing valve 450b, a flexible conduit 4500 and acentral passage 450d in the piston rod 441. The electric motors 449 arecarried on a wheel 45I, spaced below and connected with the table 442,and are energized to rotate the chucks, when raised, from any suitablepower lines through a combination distributor and switch 452 on thecentral shaft and conductors 453 leading therefrom. Each fluid motor 448is energized from a fluid pressure line 454 by way of a distributor 455on the central shaft, and a four-way valve 456 operated by arms'45I onthe central shaft and connectedwith the ends of the cylinder of themotor through valvedconduits 4'53. Generally, the puddling meansincludes puddling devices 3-69 and 46! carried on the table-.442 andarranged over the pockets 44.3 to effect the puddling of hollow ware andflat ware shapes respectively .(see Fig. 4).

These devices are constructed somewhat in accordance with that part ofthe invention defined in my co-pending application, Serial No. 443,226,having to do with puddling clay charges.

Each hollow ware puddling device 450 (see Figs. 5, 6 and 7) comprises acentral bearing block 452 on the bottom end of a spindle 4B3 co-axialwith the chuck therebelow and mounted for limited reciprocation within asleeve 464 holding the spindle from rotating through a spline connection464a, and secured in a bearing 46%: of a bracket 4.66 on the table 442.In the bottom end of the block 462 is a transverse slot lul within whichis mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis and intersecting the axis ofthe block at a point therebelow, as seen at 468, Fig. 5, the overlappinginner ends 459 of a pair of upwardly and outwardly curved puddling arms4%. The arms are guided to pivot about their common axis by arcuateguide formations 473 formed on the opposed inner Walls of the slot 461and received in arcuate guide grooves 414 formed in the inner ends ofthe arms. The top ends of the arms are are pivotally connected throughlinks 42 5, with a collar 41% on the bottom end of the sleeve 464whereby as the bearing block 462 is raised andlowered the arms willexpand and contract, as seen in full lines and dot-and-dash lines inFig. 5.

When a hollow ware mold is raised and rotated, the arms of the puddlingdevice thereover are expanded into engagement with the interior wall ofthe preformed hollow ware charge in the mold and effect the puddling ofsame by each arm having a blade 4'51 with a peripheral puddling edgeinclined away from the true circle to effect a trowelling action on theclay, and provided with transverse ridges and grooves 418 and 47$preferably inclined peripherally and horizontally cooperating with thoseof the other blade to effect a plowing action on the clay. This plowingaction is effected by so arranging the ridges and grooves of one bladein staggered relation with those of the other blade whereby ridges 459(Fig. 5) formed on the clay by the grooves of one blade would be partedand/or shifted laterally by the ridges of the other blade. It is alsocontemplated that this plowing action could be a back and forth movementof the clay or could be a progressive movement either downward or upwardas found best in each instance or condition and which maybe determinedby the arrangement of the ridges and grooves of the blades.

As the mold is initially, very slowly, lowered, the puddling armscontract awayfrom the preformed charge, and as a result the depth towhich the plowing action is effected on the clay gradually decreasesuntil a fairly smooth surface is restored on the clay as the bladesfinally leave same. The inner ends of the active edges of the bladesterminate at the point of intersection of the pivot axis of the bladesand the axis of the spindle, whereby the puddling action will occur atsaid point as well and whereby the ridges at the outer portions of theblades will recede from the inner wall of the hollow ware shape withoutremoving any of the clay.

For operating the puddling arms in timed relation with the raising andlowering of the molds, the piston rod 44'! supporting the mold chuckreciprocates the spindle 463 during the upper por tion .of its stroke,by way of a lever 482 which oscillates through a push rod 483, aspring-pressed lever 484 in pivotal connection with the spindle.

On the Spindle 463 is a stop collar 48.5 which engages the top of thesleeve 554 to limit downward movement of the spindle, and .the sleeve isheld in the bearing 465 by having nuts 486 threaded thereon and engagingthe ends of the bearing whereby the sleeve is vertically adjustable toadjust the puddling device with respect to the molds when elevated.Accordingly, the push rod 483 may comprise two parts connected by aturnbuckle 451 so as to be adjustable for lengthin regulating the extentand timing of expansion and contraction of the puddling arms.

While the flat ware puddling devices 461 are designed to perform thesame plowing action on the clay as the devices 45%, the paddling arms49! thereof with blades 49,! contoured in accordance with the fiat ware(see Figures landail) may be fixedly secured on a base 492 having anv[upright stem 493 held in a bearing 4% of a bracket 95 on the table442. However, it may have rel ativeiy movable plowing and trowellingblades as shown in my copending application, Serial .No. 443,226. Thebrackets 495 and 36 may be duplicates, as shown, whereby each maysupport a flat ware or hollow ware puddling device to accommodate thevarious types of ware produced .as well as various arrangements thereofon the conveyor. The clay ware shape may be puddled again by anotherpuddling machine 78, if desired. The purpose of the puddling machine 18.is to remove any minor, shallow strains that may be set up in the.surface of the clay shapes by the press iii and put the surface inoptimum condition for jiggering, and accordingly may comprise aduplicate of the machine it with finer. ridges and grooves formed in thepuddling blades so that the plowing action on the clay thereby will berelatively shallow.

Iclaim:

1. Dinnerware puddling machinery comprising, in combination, supportingmeans for carrying pottery molds in a closed path, a puddling implementfor puddling clay thereon, an implement support, means for moving theimplement support 50 in a closed path to bring the implement intoregister with successivemolds on the mold sup,- port, means for movingthe puddling implement and molds toward one another to engage the clayduring the interval of registration and means for moving one relative tothe other to puddle the clay.

2. Dinnerware puddling machinery comprising, in combination, supportingmeans for carrying molds in.a,- closed path, a puddling implement forpuddling clay carried by the molds, an implement support, means forangularly movin the support to carry the implement into register withsuccessive molds on the mold support, means for moving the puddlingimplement and molds toward one another to, engage the clay and implementduring the interval of registration andmeans for moving theimplementrelative to the clay "to puddle the clay. l

3. Dinnerware puddling machinery comprising,

in combination, supporting means for carrying pottery molds in a closedpath, a puddling implement, a rotatable support for said implement,means for continuously rotating said support to carry the implement intoa position ofregistration with a mold and movethesame therewith aportion of the closed path, means for moving the puddling implement andmold toward one another when in registration to engage the implement.with clay carried by the mold and means for moving the implement andclay relative to one another when in engagement to effect the puddlingof the clay.

4. Dinnerware puddling machinery comprising, in combination, a supportfor carrying pottery molds to a puddling zone, a puddling implement forpuddling clay thereon, an implement support for carrying the implementthrough the puddling zone, means for holding the mold support invertical registration with the implement while traveling through thepuddling zone, means for moving the puddling implement and mold toengage the implement with the clay carried by the mold and means forrelatively moving the implement and clay when in engagement to eilect apuddling operation.

5. Dinnerware puddling machinery comprising, in combination, a conveyorprovided with a plurality of mold supports for carrying pottery molds toa puddling zone, puddling implements, movable means for supporting saidimplements, means for indexing successive mold supports with thepuddling implements, means for moving the mold supports and puddlingimplements through the puddling zone during registration, means formoving the puddling implements and molds towards one another to engageclay carried by the molds with the puddling implements and means formoving the puddling implements and clay relative to one another. when inengagement to puddle the clay.

6. Dinnerware puddling machinery comprising, in combination, a conveyorprovided with a plurality of mold supports for carrying pottery molds toa puddling zone, puddling implements, means for supporting saidimplements for movement through the puddling zone, means for holding themold supports in vertical registration with the implements whiletraveling through the puddling zone, means for moving the puddlingimplements and molds towards one another to engage clay carried by themolds with the puddling implements and means for moving the-puddlingimplements and clay relative to one another when in engagement to puddlethe clay 7. Dinnerware puddling machinery comprising, in combination, asupport fOr carrying pottery molds to a puddling zone, a puddlingimplement for puddling clayin the molds, an implement support forcarrying the implement through the puddling zone, means for holding themoldsupports in vertical registration with the implement whilsttraveling through the puddling zone, and means for lifting the mold outof the support into co-operating relation with the implement when inregistration. 4

8. Dinnerware puddling machinery comprising, in combination, a supportfor carrying pottery molds to a puddling zone, a puddling implement forpuddling clay in the molds, an implement support for carrying theimplement through the puddling zone, means for holding themold supportsin vertical registration with theimplement whilst traveling through thepuddling zone, means for lifting the mold out of the support intoco-operating relation with the implement when in registration and meansfor rotating the mold relative to the puddling implement to effect apuddling operation.

v9. Dinnerware puddling machinery comprising, in combination, a supportfor carrying pottery molds to a puddling zone, a puddling implement forpuddling clay in the molds, an implement support for carrying theimplement through the puddling zone, means for holding the mold supportsin vertical registration with the implement whilst traveling through thepuddling zone, means for lifting the-mold out of the support intoco-operating relation with the implement when in registration, means forrotating the mold relative to the puddling implement to effect apuddling operation and means for gripping the mold to the lifting meansduring the interval of rotation.

10. Dinnerware puddling machinery comprising, in combination, a supportfor carrying pottery molds to a puddling zone, an expandible puddlingimplement for puddling clay on the molds, an implement support forcarrying the implement through the puddling zone, with the molds, meansfor moving into operative adjacency the implement and Work and means forexpanding the implement to cause the same to engage clay on the mold.

11. Dinnerware puddling machinery comprising, in combination, a supportfor carrying cavitous pottery molds in a puddling position, anexpansible puddling implement for insertion in said cavity to puddleclay therein, a support for said implement, means for moving saidimplement and mold relative to one another to insert the implement inthe cavity, means for expanding the implement into engagement with theclay and means for moving the implement and mold relative to one anotherto effect a puddling operation.

12. Dinnerware puddling machinery comprising, in combination, asupportfor carrying cavitous pottery molds in a puddling position, anexpansible puddling implement for insertion in the mold cavity to puddleclay therein, a support for said implement, means for raising said moldsupport to insert the implement in said cavity, and means, operated bythe mold lifting means for expanding the implement into engagement withthe clay.

l3. Dinnerware puddling machinery comprising, in combination, moldsupporting means in,- cluding a plurality of chucks, means for rotatingsaid chucks about a center point, a puddling implement above each chuck,a support for said puddling implements movable with the mold sup- 50portingmeans, means for raising the chucks to elevate molds carriedthereby to the puddling implements and means for rotating the chucks andimplements, one relative to the other, to effect a puddling operation.

14. Dinnerware puddling machinery comprising, in combination, aplurality of puddling implements arranged to rotate continuously about acommon axis, a continuously traveling endless mold conveyor arrangedftotravel in a path con- (30 centric with the axis through a puddling zoneto carry molds with clay thereon into registering position relative tothe puddling implements and then carry them away after the clay ispuddled and means for moving the puddling implements and molds relativeto one another when in register to effect a puddling operation.

15. Apparatus foripuddling charges of plastic clay on pottery moldscomprising, a plurality of rotary puddling machines, each havingpuddling 7 devices rotatable about the axis of the'machine,

mold supporting means associated with each machine, and a mold conveyorconnected to said machines in driving association therewith for carryingmolds to and from said machines.

16. Apparatus for puddling charges of plastic clay on pottery moldscomprising, a plurality of rotary puddling machines, each havingpuddling devices rotatable about the axis of the machine,

mold supporting means associated with each ma chine and a mold conveyorpositioned and arranged for carrying molds to the mold supporting meansof each machine and for rotating said machines.

17. Apparatus for puddling charges of plastic clay on pottery moldscomprising, a mold conveyor for carrying molds through a puddling zone,a rotary puddling machine in said zone to be driven with said conveyor,puddling implements carried by said machine for movement with saidconveyor, and mold lifters below each puddling implement for liftingmolds from said conveyor and co-operating them with the puddlingimplement thereabove.

18. Apparatus for puddling charges of plastic clay on pottery moldscomprising, a mold conveyor for carrying molds through a puddling zone,a rotary puddling machine in said zone to be driven with said conveyor,a puddling implement carried by said machine for movement into and outof position over molds on said conveyor, a mold chuck below saidimplement and means for relatively moving said mold chuck and implementwhen a mold is in register therewith for performing a puddling operationon clay carried by the mold.

19. A puddling machine comprising a base, a rotary table carried by thebase, peripheral recesses in the rotary table for receiving moldcarriers, a mold chuck below each recess, a puddling implement mountedabove each recess, means for moving the implements and chucks, onerelative to the other to efiect a puddling operation and means forrotating said table.

20. A dinnerware puddling machine comprising a base, a rotary tablecarried by the base, a mold chuck carried by the table, means forvertically moving the chuck in a direction parallel to the axis ofrotation of the table, a puddling tool above said chuck, a support forsaid tool carried above the table for rotation about the axis of thetable, and means operated by the means for vertically moving the chuck,for actuating said tool.

21. A dinnerware puddling machine comprising, a base, a rotary supportcarried by said base, a mold chuck carried by the support, a puddlingtool having movable puddling members, a support for said tool above andmovable with said rotary support, means for moving said chuck and toolrelative to one another and means operated by said last named means formoving the puddling members.

22. A dinnerware puddling machine comprising a base, a rotary supportcarried by said base, a plurality of mold chucks carried by the support,puddling tools, supports for said tools above and movable with saidrotary support, some of said tools being formed for puddling flatwareand some for puddling hollowware,said latter tools having movablepuddling members, means for moving said chuck and tools relative to oneanother and means, operated by said last named means for moving saidpuddling members.

WILLIAM J. MILLER.

